A blog about my efforts to help raise awareness of the increase of horrific birth defects and cancer in Fallujah, Iraq

Menu

News from Fallujah General Hospital

No, I really don’t have any “news”. It’s kind of hard to have a blog on an issue that just sits there, getting worse – or worse, just sitting there. I understand, really. Too much sadness and too many things to be outraged over and it’s hard to keep up with it all, especially something that seems so overwhelming and so far away, and basically kind of hopeless. I get it, I do. Since I’ve started my blog all that I’ve done in terms of doing something, is, well, start my blog. I’ve shared lots of links and background info on what’s been done and what’s been written and at this point that’s really about all I can do.

I so admire Dr. Ala’ani and the staff of the Fallujah General Hospital, dealing with this, with limited $ and no real support. Really no words. All of these babies were born in Fallujah:

This is afemale born today in Fallujah MCH with Microcephaly , Encephalocele , Cleft lip & palate , her brother born 4 years ago with the same defects & died 5 days after birth , 2 normal two years & 11 months old sisters , the parents are young & healthy & have no previous family history of any anomaly

This boy born by Cs in FMCH & died shortly after birth , he has Microphthalmia + abnormalities in his trachea & esophagus , the family have no previous anomaly

From Alshuhada’a district , Fallujah , born with chest & hand deformity , his sister married few years ago & gave birth to 3 successive babies with fatal congenital anomalies, the family have no previous history of any congenital anomaly .

Hiba Sayf with Arythrogryposis & claft , female born in FGH in the 11th of february 2013 , no previous family history of any anomaly .the family live in Saglaweya , their neighbours also have ababy born few days ago with spina bifida

Male born 6-4-2013 with Hydrocephaly to a young healthy parents , there was no previous family history of any anomaly before .

baby with left big toe giantism

Female born in Fallujah MCH with Microcephaly & dysmorphic features , she is the 1st baby to a 2nd degree relatives healthy young parents , the family live in Jumhooreya district , Fallujah & have no previous family history of any anomaly

Another male born in FGH with multiple gross congenital anomalies in addition to CHD , he is the 1st baby to 2 young healthy couples with no previous history of any anomaly

These are the images and these are the stories that move me, in sadness and in anger, at what the war did to these innocent babies. Do you feel it? It’s what motivates me to keep going in this endeavor, and I hope that everyone who happens upon my blog – whether you are my dear friends or strangers that found it by chance – I hope that you can keep them in your mind as well, and help us, in whatever way you can, to find some justice. Please send ideas, suggestions, thoughts on how we can get the word out so that they can get some help.

And, I will see you on the other side of my vacation, fired up and ready to go…